Government funding for growing hurling expected to be 'recurring' 

Minister Patrick O'Donovan said the League of Ireland academies model could be a blueprint for growing other sports, including hurling. 

The government has committed €750,000 in the 2026 Budget towards growing hurling in "non-traditional" counties. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

The GAA received additional funding of €983,000 from the Government in the Budget announced on Tuesday. €750,000 will go towards growing hurling in “non-traditional” areas while the remainder is “enhanced core funding” for the Association.

The GAA had sought a larger figure but minister Charlie McConalogue said the investment is likely to be made on a regular basis. “The expectation is that this would be recurring,” said the minister.

“The GAA, like many other organisations, had asked for more. They have very strong plans to expand hurling across the country.

“That is something that we would see great merit in at government level. This is a significant allocation to back that. We will engage with them further in relation to the detail of how that will be made to work.” 

Minister Patrick O’Donovan said that the League of Ireland academies model, which received €3m in Budget funding, could be used “as a blueprint for the development of other sports in the country, including hurling, which I would obviously have a keen interest in”.

“When you look at the number of counties in the country at the moment that can compete in the Liam MacCarthy for All-Ireland honours, it's quite small,” the Limerick man continued.

“We do have a job of work to do and I've spoken to the GAA around this as well and they're very much up for it around the development of hurling counties and in counties that wouldn't be traditionally hurling as well.

“The monies that have been allocated here for football development I think will provide an interesting blueprint for the development of other games as well.” 

The GPA received an increase of €1.6m in funding for inter-county players, a figure below what they had requested in pre-budget submissions, though one they also see as a good starting point. It will mean an increase in player grants of 28% to an average of €1,800 and a total player fund of €7.2m.

“This marks a strong result for players and for our campaign reflecting the credibility of the GPA's case and the growing recognition of the enormous contribution inter-county players make to the Irish economy and society,” they said.

“We have had positive and constructive engagement with minister Patrick O'Donovan, who has reaffirmed his commitment to continue working with players over the lifetime of this Government. The GPA recognises today's announcement as phase one of a plan to reach €10m in annual player funding, the target set by players themselves.

“In the coming days, we will engage directly with players, Sport Ireland and the National Governing Bodies to discuss how this funding will be structured on a per- player basis.

The GPA added that their “campaign does not stop here”.

“The GPA will continue to push until inter-county players are fully recognised and supported on par with other elite and high-performance athletes in Ireland,” their statement continued, “whether that is achieved through the total funding outlined in our campaign or through a combination of direct investment and/or a fair tax-relief scheme for players.

“Today is an important step forward but our focus remains firmly on achieving full recognition and fairness for every inter-county player in the country.” 

Meanwhile, the IRFU received additional funding of €750,000 with just under €500,000 going towards the building of high-performance pathways for women’s rugby players, and the remainder being “enhanced core funding” for the Union. Ahead of the 2028 Olympics in LA, high-performance funding has increased by €1.5m while €500,000 will be invested in grassroots golf participation as part of the legacy programme for the 2027 Ryder Cup.